From high schooler Lazola Maku to Cape Town City's Shakeel April, Amajita ballers were well received by their communities after their AFCON heroics.
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The story
The Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations (U20 AFCON) champions, Amajita, are still on cloud nine after some of the players were celebrated by their communities and schools.
Having received a hero's welcome at OR Tambo International Airport on Tuesday following their impressive performance in Egypt at the recently concluded continental tournament, the likes of Lazola Maku, Shakeel April, Mfundo Vilakazi and Takalani Mazhamba made sure to celebrate their AFCON triumphs at home.
Led by coach Raymond Mdaka, South Africa's U20 men's national team clinched the title on Sunday night with a 1-0 victory over Morocco in the final, held at the June 30 Stadium in Cairo.
The team has also qualified for the U20 FIFA World Cup. They achieved the feat after they beat their DR Congo counterparts in the quarterfinals, going on to lose just one match all tournament (vs Egypt), before managing wins over Sierra Leone, Tanzania, DR Congo, Nigeria and Morocco in the final.
As per the Sowetan, SuperSport United young midfielder, Maku received a rousing welcome at Noordwyk Secondary School in Midrand on Wednesday.
The 17-year-old, who played a pivotal role in Amajita's success as Raymond Mdaka started him in every game, was reportedly driven in through a guard of honour, greeted by his schoolmates and teachers, who lined up in numbers to celebrate the youngster.
A video of Western Cape native, Shakeel April, being swarmed by hometown friends upon his return to the Mother City has been doing the rounds online.
The skilful Cape Town City winger, who caught eyes with his dazzling performances out wide, was hoisted in the air and lauded by his friends while wearing his matchday jersey.
Kaizer Chiefs young goalkeeper Mazhamba confidently strided into school, walking alongside his peers who were holding placards. The shot-stopper saluted the rest of the learners wearing both his AFCON U20 and DStv Diski Challenge winners medals.
Amakhosi starlet Mfundo Vilakazi, on the other hand, proudly paraded his medal around his neighbourhood.
"Obrigado", who also became a Nedbank Cup winner while doing duty for Amajita, was welcomed by his family, including his father, at O.R. Tambo International on Tuesday, and has gone viral for wearing his full match kit upon landing in Johannesburg.
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